The commercial catch in 1998 was 131.4 million lb, valued at $71.1 million. Point Judith is the main fishing port, with landings of 75.1 million lb in 1998, ranking 18th in the US for size of catch that year. The commercial fishing fleet consisted of 2,777 boats and vessels in 1997, supplying the state's 77 processing and wholesale plants. The most valuable edible fish and shellfish caught are whiting, fluke and yellowtail flounders, cod, scup lobster, squid, and clams. Landings of Atlantic mackerel in 1998 totaled 5.8 million lb, 88% of the national total.
In 1998, Rhode Island issued 34,487 sport fishing licenses. Three hatcheries distributed nearly 326,000 lb of trout within the state that year.